1. Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2. When PETER had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,

3. saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"

4. But PETER began, and explained to them in order, saying,

5. "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.

6. When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.

7. I also heard a voice saying to me,'Rise, PETER, kill and eat!'

8. But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'

9. But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven,'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'

10. This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11. Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.

12. The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.

13. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called PETER,

14. who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'

15. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

16. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said,'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'

17. If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"

18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"

7. When there had been much discussion, PETER rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.

8. God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

9. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

10. Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."